Canadian Democracy is Overruled: More on Moore and the CBC

Did you know that the key idea behind modern government is the concept of a separation of powers?  The legislative is supposed to be separate from the executive which is supposed to be separate from the judiciary.  And modern government is also supposed to be separate from its public broadcaster, or any media for that matter.  It’s called freedom of the press.  In Canada this will no longer be the case under the “Harper Government” aided by none other than MP James Moore, Minister of Heritage, who is directly responsible for the CBC.  If Bill C-60 passes in parliament, the CBC will no longer be at arm’s length from the “Harper Government”.  This potential for control is unprecedented in the West.

On 3 May 2011, on the day following the last federal election, Minister Moore declared: “We believe in the national public broadcaster.  We have said that we will maintain or increase support for the CBC.  That is our platform … and we will commit to that.”  Since then, Moore has overseen a 10% reduction in the CBC budget, and now he verges on converting the CBC into a kind of state or government broadcaster.

In Minister Moore’s most recent constituency newsletter I see the words “Promise Made, Promise kept” (referring  to the Evergreen Line construction).   Clearly, by acknowledgement, MP Moore was able to keep ONE promise from the last election.   Keeping this single promise is essential to making sure trains run to schedule, where efficiency rules.  Meanwhile Canadian democracy is overruled. [1]

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[1] Letter to the Editor, The Tri-Cities NOW, Wednesday June 12, 2013.